Apple warns Australian proposal to force tech companies to scan cloud services could lead to mass surveillance

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:09:34 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/22/apple-warns-australian-proposal-to-force-tech-companies-to-scan-cloud-services-could-lead-to-mass-surveillance>

"Apple has warned an Australian proposal to force tech companies to scan cloud
and messaging services for child-abuse material risks “undermining fundamental
privacy and security protections” and could lead to mass surveillance with
global repercussions.

Under two mandatory standards aimed at child safety released by the regulator
last year, the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, proposed that providers
should detect and remove child-abuse material and pro-terror material “where
technically feasible” – as well as disrupt and deter new material of that
nature.

The regulator has stressed in an associated discussion paper it “does not
advocate building in weaknesses or back doors to undermine privacy and security
on end-to-end encrypted services”.

In Apple’s submission to the proposals, provided to Guardian Australia, it
said this would offer no protection, given the assurances were not explicitly
included in the draft standards.

“eSafety claims the same protections for end-to-end encryption in the codes
apply to the standards but this is not supported by any language to that
effect,” the submission said.

“We recommend that eSafety adopt a clear and consistent approach expressly
supporting end-to-end encryption so that there is no uncertainty and confusion
or potential inconsistency across codes and standards.”"

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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